Introduction Shvana Maitri Foundation
Shvana Maitri Foundation is a non profit animal welfare organisation focusing on stray dogs and is engage in various activities, including feeding, medical care, spaying/neutering, vaccination campaigns, and finding suitable homes through adoption programs. We also conduct awareness and education initiatives to promote responsible pet ownership and advocate for humane treatment of animals. Our overall goal is to improve the well-being of stray dogs and address issues related to overpopulation, health, and mistreatment.
Read MoreWe need to raise a voice against animal cruelty
From being burnt with acid to being tossed from roof, they are subjected to cruelty and torture almost everyday. Imagine being voiceless, hungry and shooed away with stones or kicks. Unfortunately this is the plight of most of the street dogs in India.
The Indian Constitution lists “compassion for living creatures” as a fundamental duty of citizens, and killing dogs is illegal. Street dogs cannot be beaten, killed or displaced, and can only be sterilized, vaccinated, and returned to their original locations as per the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2001. Only rabies-afflicted, incurably ill, or mortally wounded dogs can be culled as per the law.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, makes cruelty to animals punishable with a fine and imprisonment, but the fine of Rs 50 is hardly a deterrent. Unnatural sex with animals is dealt under section 377 of the IPC. The Supreme Court has repeatedly asked states to abide by the 1960 law and the 2001 rules and refrain from killing stray dogs. The apex court has also said that “nobody can destroy stray dogs in entirety. They also have a right to live.
Founder's Message
At the heart of our Foundation lies a simple but profound belief: every life matters — no matter how small, voiceless, or forgotten. The plight of stray dogs in our streets is a daily reminder of how much we, as a society, still need to grow in compassion and responsibility.
Every stray dog on our streets carries a story of survival — stories of pain, abandonment, cruelty… but also of resilience, loyalty, and unmatched love. They ask for nothing, yet give everything they have — a wag of the tail, a trusting glance, a silent thank you when you feed or pet them.
I started this journey not just to rescue dogs, but to give them what they have always deserved — a life with dignity, warmth, and love. A life where they are not kicked, chased, or feared — but cared for, healed, and cherished.
Every dog we save is a life reclaimed. Every adoption, every bowl of food, every act of kindness is a small step toward a more compassionate world. And none of this is possible without people like you — people who care, who act, who believe that these voiceless souls matter.
Thank you for walking this path with us.
Let’s continue — for them. Always for them.
With all my heart,
Richa Kaushik
Shvana Maitri Foundation
